Make Amends

Before Xuan Heng himself arrived, his Calamity Severing Sword had already pierced through the seven-colored treasure light in the valley and shot straight at Zhunti's face.

The smile on Zhunti's face instantly froze. He raised his hand and swept again, and the treasure light of the Seven Treasures Wonder Tree collided with Xuan Heng's Calamity Severing Sword.

"Boom!"

A thunderous blast resounded through the entire valley, and the clouds above it exploded with a bang.

A layer of the seven-colored treasure light swept out by the Seven Treasures Wonder Tree was forcibly shaved away by the Calamity Severing Sword. The auspicious cloud beneath Zhunti's feet retreated three zhang, and even the hand clutching the Seven Treasures Wonder Tree trembled faintly. His eyes were filled with shock; he had never expected Xuan Heng's strength to have become so formidable.

Kong Xuan and Six Ears in the valley only felt their bodies lighten. The seven-colored treasure light pressing down upon them had been cleanly severed by a single stroke of the Calamity Severing Sword.

Xuan Heng slowly emerged from the sea of clouds, the Calamity Severing Sword hovering at his side as profound blue patterns slowly flowed across its blade.

He glanced at Kong Xuan and Six Ears before speaking slowly. "Fall back behind me."

Hearing Xuan Heng's words, Kong Xuan and Six Ears immediately obediently retreated.

Zhunti had also regained his signature smile. Pressing his palms together, he addressed Xuan Heng, "Fellow Daoist Xuan Heng, you misunderstand. I was merely passing by. Seeing that these two young friends were somewhat unsettled, I was only helping them calm their minds."

Xuan Heng was directly angered into laughter. Having lived two lives, he had still never seen anyone so shameless.

"Fellow Daoist Zhunti, do you believe those words yourself? Why not ask Fellow Daoist Receiving Guide whether he believes them? Do you take me for blind, or do you think my cultivation is so low that I cannot sense the lingering radiance of the Seven Treasures on my disciples?"

Hearing Xuan Heng's words, Receiving Guide also raised his head, his gaze grave as he looked at Xuan Heng across from him.

Xuan Heng's casual sword stroke just now had broken Zhunti's seven-colored treasure light, forcing Zhunti to defend a second time before he could barely block it.

Moreover, Xuan Heng's strike had not cut at Zhunti's physical body, nor at the true form of the Seven Treasures Wonder Tree. What that sword had truly severed was the karmic entanglement Zhunti had laid upon Kong Xuan and Six Ears with the West. The sword light was pure and clear, untouched by tribulation aura, yet karma was notoriously difficult to sever.

This was not something an ordinary quasi-sage could accomplish.

Receiving Guide spoke softly to Zhunti at his side. "Junior Brother, Xuan Heng is far stronger than the two of us."

Zhunti's gaze darkened. He did not like hearing Receiving Guide say that, but there was nothing he could do. The two of them were still seeking that sliver of opportunity to become saints, while Xuan Heng had already entered the quasi-sage realm through the Dao of Laws, his aura comparable to that of a quasi-sage who had severed two corpses.

Even if the two of them joined forces today, it would be difficult to defeat Xuan Heng, who possessed numerous spiritual treasures and held the advantage of the terrain. Besides, if three quasi-sages truly fought without restraint, the Three Pure Ones would certainly notice. At that point, it would be difficult enough for the two of them merely to leave Kunlun.

Yet Zhunti was still unwilling to give up. The Seven Treasures Wonder Tree in his hand turned lightly, and he remained unwilling to yield.

"Fellow Daoist Xuan Heng, even if your cultivation has advanced, the karmic laws of the Great Dao should not be decided by you alone. I believe we should still respect the wishes of your two disciples."

Xuan Heng did not reply. The Calamity Severing Sword slashed out once more, this strike faster than the last.

Zhunti's expression darkened slightly, and seven-colored treasure light burst forth from the Seven Treasures Wonder Tree.

"Whoosh!"

The seven-colored treasure light met the sword light, seeking to sweep the Calamity Severing Sword away.

But Xuan Heng's sword was only the beginning. The instant the Calamity Severing Sword met the Seven Treasures Wonder Tree, an ancient long ruler flew from Xuan Heng's sleeve.

The Heaven and Earth Ruler swept through the air, instantly freezing the space around Zhunti.

Then the Purifying White Lotus behind Xuan Heng slowly bloomed. Endless purifying white light surged forth and pressed down upon the treasure light of Zhunti's Seven Treasures Wonder Tree.

Zhunti only felt the Seven Treasures Wonder Tree in his hand growing increasingly heavy, to the point that even controlling it became difficult. Its seven-colored treasure light was suppressed until it could only protect the area immediately around him.

Just as Zhunti's seven-colored wonder tree was suppressed, the Calamity Severing Sword seized the opening. It easily tore through Zhunti's seven-colored treasure light and left a bloody gash across his shoulder.

Zhunti let out a muffled groan and retreated, but just as he took half a step back, the sky above his head suddenly darkened.

A great seal flew from Xuan Heng's palm.

The Mountain-Suppressing Seal swelled in the wind. The patterns of mountains and rivers upon it lit up, as though the mountain force of an entire corner of Kunlun had been drawn forth, crashing down upon Zhunti.

"Junior Brother!"

Seeing Zhunti about to be severely wounded by Xuan Heng, Receiving Guide cried out sharply. Golden light then burst from his sleeve, and the phantom of a Merit Golden Lotus unfolded before Zhunti, layer upon layer of lotus petals supporting the Mountain-Suppressing Seal.

"Boom!"

The Mountain-Suppressing Seal smashed onto the phantom of the Merit Golden Lotus.

The golden lotus trembled, ripples spreading across its petals. Receiving Guide lowered his eyes and pressed his palms together, while even the auspicious cloud beneath his feet was forced down several zhang by that seal.

Xuan Heng did not stop moving. With a beckoning gesture, the Six Pure Roots Bamboo fell into his hand. He swept it lightly, and a force that stilled the heart spread through the valley, instantly cutting off the connection between Zhunti and Receiving Guide.

The Calamity Severing Sword flew out again. With one slash, Zhunti's Daoist robe was instantly torn apart, leaving a savage wound across his chest.

Having suffered another blow, Zhunti finally stopped trying to endure and retreated behind Receiving Guide.

Receiving Guide waved his hand, and the Twelve-Grade Merit Golden Lotus shielded the two of them. Then he looked toward Xuan Heng.

"Fellow Daoist Xuan Heng, enough!"

Xuan Heng took a step forward. The Mountain-Suppressing Seal hung above his head, the Heaven and Earth Ruler circling around him, while the Calamity Severing Sword pointed remotely at the two men from the West.

"Enough? If I had not emerged from seclusion today, would you have taken my two disciples across to the West? And now you tell me enough? Too late!"

Xuan Heng raised his hand and pressed down.

The mountain-and-river patterns on the Mountain-Suppressing Seal lit up again, and the entire valley seemed to sink an inch lower.

The phantom of Receiving Guide's Merit Golden Lotus was pressed until its petals trembled lightly. His sleeves shook, and a thread of pale golden blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.

The two sword wounds on Zhunti's shoulder and chest flared with Profound Pure Immortal Light at the same time, causing the mana within his body to stagnate.

"Damn, Master is too cool. He's suppressing two Western quasi-sages by himself, beating them until they can't even raise their heads—and he hasn't even been injured."

Kong Xuan and Six Ears stood behind Xuan Heng, their hearts shaken by what they saw.

They knew Xuan Heng had already entered the Quasi-Saint realm, but only now did they realize just how terrifying his current combat strength was. He was no longer that Xuan Qing who needed the Three Pure Ones to protect him behind their backs.

At this moment, he alone was enough to suppress the two from the West.

Xuan Heng stood with his sword in hand, his voice calm.

"Still want to fight?"

Zhunti's face darkened at those words, while the treasure light atop the Seven Treasures Wonder Tree in his hand continued to flicker.

But Receiving Guide grabbed his wrist and gently shook his head.

"We cannot fight any longer."

Naturally, Zhunti knew they could not continue. Xuan Heng alone was already this troublesome; if the Three Pure Ones noticed the battle here and emerged from seclusion, whether the two of them could leave Kunlun alive would be another matter entirely.

Receiving Guide suppressed the surging blood and qi within him and looked toward Xuan Heng.

"Fellow Daoist Xuan Heng, we were indeed discourteous today. What does Fellow Daoist desire?"

Xuan Heng returned the Six Pure Roots Bamboo to Six Ears, but the Mountain-Suppressing Seal and Calamity Severing Sword still hovered at his side. Then he folded his arms across his chest and spoke calmly.

"Very simple. Compensation."